Who is the first ex officio chairman of the rajya sabha of india?
Answers
As per Article 64 of Indian Constitution, Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and shall not hold any other office of profit. However, during the period when Vice-President acts as President or discharges the functions of President under Art 65, he shall not perform the duties of the office of the Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and shall not be entitled to any salary or allowance payable to the Chairman of the Council of States under Art 97.
The Vice-President occupies the second highest office in the country. He is accorded a rank next to the President in the official warrant of precedence. This office is modelled on the lines of the American Vice-President, however, there is a difference. The American Vice-President succeeds to the presidency when it falls vacant, and remains President for the unexpired term of his predecessor. The Indian Vice-President, on the other hand, does not assume the office of the President when it falls vacant for the unexpired term. He merely serves as an acting President until the new President assumes charge. Therefore, some scholars call him ‘His Superfluous Highness’. This office was created to maintain the political continuity of the Indian State.